A shake-up of Stockton Council’s cabinet and scrutiny committees could save the authority more than £40,000.

The cabinet will be reduced from nine to seven which will save the council £24,120 a year.

It will also recommend to full council that the number of scrutiny committees is cut from seven to five, saving £20,100 a year.

The savings generated would contribute to the council’s 15% efficiency target of £130,000 by April 2015.

Leader of Stockton Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “At a time when we are examining all budgets across the council to make savings it is right for us to look at the money which is being spent on special responsibility allowances.

“In addition to freezing the basic allowance for two years we have carefully reviewed our cabinet structure and scrutiny system and believe we can continue to meet the needs and expectations of our residents with a reduction in cabinet members and scrutiny committees.

“What really matters is that we provide excellent front-line services and do all we can to protect the most vulnerable.

“With these new structures I know we can strive to achieve this, whilst also generating significant savings.”

Under the new arrangements the portfolios of corporate management and finance and housing and community safety could be removed and merged with existing portfolios.

The changes would be implemented in 2015 at the Annual General Meeting following local elections in May.

The savings of £44,220 are part of a wider set of savings of £103,560 and in addition to the £10,416 generated by freezing basic allowances for two years.

Currently, the chairs of select committees at the council receive a special responsibility allowance of £6,700.